The boat coded BD 96092 TS with 9 fishermen on board was seized by local marine police on January 20 while it was fishing in Brunei’s waters.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the Vietnamese embassy to work with Brunei agencies to deal with the case.

The Consular Office under the ministry sent a diplomatic note to the Brunei embassy in Hanoi, requesting that Brunei soon free the nine fishermen and their boat.

During a visit on February 7, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh requested that Brunei consider releasing the fishermen in the humanitarian spirit, and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah signed a decision to free them.